Media Statements

Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Queensland welcomes international production Jungle

Queensland welcomes international production Jungle

Queensland is opening its doors to another major film production with Arclight Films and producer Dana Lustig bringing the thriller Jungle, announced Premier and Arts Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk.

“Jungle stars Daniel Radcliffe (Kill Your Darlings, Swiss Army Man – just picked up for distribution at Sundance by a24, and Harry Potter films) and commences production in April,” the Premier said.

“Based on the internationally bestselling memoir of the same name by Yossi Ghinsberg, the feature film tells the story of four travellers who set off into the heart of the Amazon rainforest on a dream adventure which quickly turns into a nightmare.

“We are starting off the year strong with another production to shoot in Queensland offering over 100 jobs and injecting approximately $5.4 million into our local economy,” the Premier said.

“Jungle will be shooting at least 50 per cent of the production on location in South East Queensland as well as the Village Roadshow Studios with other locations still to be determined.

“This follows on from back-to-back productions filming in Queensland including The Nest, The Shallows, Kong: Skull Island which commenced in January and with Thor hot on its heels to begin principal photography.

“With the imminent opening of Australia’s biggest sound stage at Village Roadshow Studios on the Gold Coast, we deserve our reputation as a film destination of choice for domestic and international producers,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

Queensland-based producer Todd Fellman (Daybreakers, Mental) of Story Bridge Films is behind Jungle and working with Arclight Films.

It is being directed by Greg McLean (Wolf Creek, Wolf Creek 2), written by Justin Monjo (Rush, The Untold Story of INXS), and produced by Gary Hamilton, Mark Lazarus, Mike Gabrawy, Dana Lustig and McLean.

“We have made it our mission to bring Australian films and Australian talent to the world stage through internationally accessible commercial films that highlight the amazing depth of talent to be found in Australia,” said Gary Hamilton, Managing Director of Arclight Films.

“The film will provide jobs, economic growth and the opportunity for our local crew and people to gain more experience and up-skill to further their careers and make our state even more attractive to producers,” Ms Apelt said.

JUNGLE tells the story of Yossi Ghinsberg, an enthusiastic young adventurer following his dreams, who heads into the Amazon jungle with two friends and a guide with a mysterious past. Their journey turns into a terrifying psychological ordeal and fight for survival as the darkest elements of human nature and the deadliest threats of the wilderness emerge to test their endurance.